In racing, the only thing that's free is your labor. Anything you can fabricate yourself is money you've saved that can be used on something else (or just not spent at all!) to advance your racing program.

2/16Building your own radiator shroud is relatively easy, will save you money and can greatly improve the efficiency of your cooling system. Begin by making a trip to your local craft store and pick up some poster board. Use this to create a template for the shroud. Don't worry about making a mistake, you can tape back pieces if you cut off too much.

One area where you can definitely save a few bucks with minimum fabrication skills is by building your own radiator shroud to make sure all the air going through the grille also goes through the radiator instead of simply swirling around inside the engine compartment. If you are having heating problems during the hotter summer months, a radiator shroud can definitely help. Air, like water, will always choose the path of least resistance. And when there is no shroud to force it through a radiator, much of the airflow through the grille will wind up hitting the radiator and simply going around it.

We followed along as Dirt Late Model racer Chris Hargett created the patterns and fabricated a radiator shroud as he finished his new race car. The chassis is a Mastersbilt by Stuckey (a Mastersbilt chassis modified to specifications set by Stuckey Enterprises), but this method will work with practically any car. For simplicity, Hargett used the nose as the roof of the shroud, and the bottom is left open. And finally, before we get started, eagle-eyed readers will note that there is no grille cut into the nose-that was done after our shoot.